Tow Far - Trailer Maintenance

Nothing opens the door to recreational opportunities wider than the lowly trailer, be it for hauling a boat, motorcycle, ATV, horse or whatever your pleasure. Often overlooked and unappreciated, this bucket of steel on wheels adds mobility and freedom to our outdoor experience, taking us to new adventures in distant settings where we garner fond memories to feed our souls for years to come.


While this near-poetic expression about a trailer may seem like overkill, the bottom line is it plays a valuable role. But, alas, it can do just the opposite, too. A broken down trailer seems to grant one the uncanny ability to coin four-letter words on the spot. The more literate come up with entire phrases to voice their disdain about this 'broken down piece of sheetmetal.'


Truth is, we often don't think twice about our trailer when everything goes smoothly. And that is the problem. We need to give regular thought and attention to the trailer to ensure happy outings. It's called maintenance—which to many is nothing but a four-letter word camouflaged in 11 letters. What it really spells is work, which, as they point out, is indeed a four-letter word.


However, a little work now can eliminate a lot of work later. Not to mention expense. And safety. An ill-maintained trailer may decide to go south on you when you're traveling north at 60 mph amid heavy traffic. Should it happen—and it does all too often—things can get ugly and people can get hurt. So, whether you do it personally or hire someone else to do it, it is prudent to keep your trailer in good working order. The following tips are designed to help you do just that.

Check the Tread
Most trailering accidents involve the trailer's tires, so let's start there. Two words: Air pressure. Tire maintenance requires maintaining adequate pressure. If you run your trailer with underinflated tires you're a candidate for disaster.